The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-11-10
PITY the Poor 9aIeennan.

Pity the Poor Salesman.
New York Letter to Hartford Courant.
A woman behind the counter 10
like q queen behind her throne. and 10
frequently tyrannical and arbitrary
sovereign; but q man selling goods
does not possess the same imposing
appearance. His object seems too
plainly to be to sell his wares instead
of to tritle with the customer or to OK.
ercise his great privileges. He is not
q diplomatee, and in this position,
with all its temptations. he 10 seldom
. bully.
Anew days ago, while waiting on the
will Of a peerless lady with bandoline
and bang and naughty mien in a
Broadway shop. the subscriber was
attracted by negotiations between two
ladies and q salesman. He wasa heav.
lily built. stalwart young man with q
fresh color, and, to the casual glance,
in good training, weight about 100
pounds, skin clear and we'll colored.
The ladies were from out of town-we
will say Jersey, the Jersey flats, by
way Of q venture. The younger. the
would-be purchaser, was very thin, in.
clined to straw color, chill and aguish
looking-not at all in good condition.
You would have given the shopman
long odds in any combat between the
two. But there was q mother with
the younger woman her duplicate, il
duplicate means double, for she was
just double as fat, double as d Id, doub.
le as eagle-eycd.
II want to see some black silks, " re.
marked the daughter.
"Certainly, madam" said the shop.
man. "Here is, guarantee.t the finest
piece of black silk ever made up in
this city. If I were a lady and buying
silk I'd buy this black. As long as
any Of it's left, even after it gets slick
and shiny, you can add to it, you can
turn and twist it,"
20, but I don't want it If it's going
to get shiny and going to fall to pieces
like that" said the young lady from
Jersey; II want something that'll
wear"
"But, madam" began the shopman,
II didn't say
"Well, Mary jana" interrupted the
elder lady, disparing1y, lit does seem
an awful pity you've got to give up
your black silk. but l s'pose if the
man says himself it's gong to get
shiny and's coming to pieces. it's no
good looking for one. Black silks al
ways convenient; in case of family af.
Fiction, there you are; there's nothing
genteeler for church; and as for teas.
all's extra you've got to have's lace
fichu, and there you are again. Give
me u black silk, says /, and there ]
am, no matter where you put me.
But, OF course, if it's going to get like
that, falling to pieces in your hands,
az he says"-
"Madam-" gasped the shopman.
His knees had begun to tremble and
his breath to shorten.
"Of course, nobody wants g. dress
that's going to fall to pieces, because
there'd be the dressmaker to pay. and
what's the use of making up if it's
bound to act like that?" went On the
younger lady; but she was not weak
ening, her color was high, and q
healthful excitement glowed in her
eyes
II said, madam, that" whisper.
ed the shopman.
"Of course l feel discouraged, Mary
Jane" said her mother, waving him
aside. "but at least he's honest, some
mend tried to pass off their goods as
worth buying. Young man, Tllsay this
to you. Your silks poor, but you're
honest, and l wish you WE'LL"
With this sally they moved of. Il
kept shop ia keep it with sales
women. They'd awe and they'd sub.
due, but they'd sell my black silks.